Lives Remembered

The ‘University of Life’ poem read by Meg Marshall during our event at the Houses of Parliament in 2023.

 I love mum and dad 

It’s almost a shame when you have to grow up and leave home 

But Uni will be amazing 

Let’s face it, there’s 500 people there, It’s not like I’ll be alone 

I remember feeling excited as the car got packed 

Mum was crying, Dad was tearful but just rested his hand on my back 

He told me to have fun, but not too much 

Told me to call mum, but not too much! 

So off we went, mum waving from the drive 

Dad was excited for me. I felt grown up and alive 

The university was huge and as we pulled up outside the dorm 

I was greeted by my flat mate who smiled and seemed warm 

Everything seemed perfect. 

My life had now begun. 

The first few weeks were a blur 

And I barely thought of mum 

But soon the pressure shunted my mood as the workload took it’s toll 

My studying became stunted as deadlines loomed and I lost sight of my goal 

My best seemed never good enough, each day became a fight 

My evenings became my waking hours as days turned into nights 

I started skipping classes. I became lonely. A recluse. 

My grades began to fall away as I fell closer to the noose 

I just don’t know why no one helped 

I lied each time my parents called 

I told them things were fine 

But underneath the surface lay that broken heart of mine 

Each day became harder 

Each night full of fears 

My mental health still falling 

As I’m crawling on my knees in floods of tears. 

I feel hollow. I feel lost. I’ve lost hope. 

I felt like I couldn’t reach out and each time I tried I choked 

The morning that I did it, I remember feeling free 

I remember wishing that I had support and things weren’t all left to me 

My uni never saw the signs. They missed my vacant stare. 

I was left without protection and they were clearly unaware 

Of just how hard my life had got, how hard my life became 

How hard it got to reach a class or just to brave the winter rain 

The hearse was ready. Mum crying on the drive 

Dad remembering the day I left for uni so alive. 

Thinking I’d be safe. Thinking it would all turn out OK 

Knowing that even if things got hard, tomorrow’s another day. 

A kid that just left school. Became a man overnight 

No more parental guidance. Left alone to face the fight. 

100 kids that die each year, now one of them is me 

100 kids could still be here, if only the system could see. 

I wish a duty of care was in place, to help the kids like me 

Maybe things will change one day. If only the system would see. 

University of Life - by Ricky Nuttall

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